Web splicing device



Feb. 10, 1942. C. L, RlCARDs l 2,272,225

WEB SPLICING `DEVICE ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1942. Q RlCARDs 2,272,225

WEB sPLIcING DEVICE Filed Sept. l, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7p/mais 16J/mms,

BY M

ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1942. c. l.. RICARDS 2,272,225

WEB SPLICING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Ilm/5 C. L. RICARDS WEB SPLICING DEVICE Filed Sept. l, 1937 Feb. 1o, 1942.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I /47a .i it @4 ma@ /55 f lNv NTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1942 orxc:

WEB SPLIVCENG DEVICE Virginia Application September 1, 1937, Serial No. 162,002

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a double arm magazine reel, for use in the printing industry, combined with a pasting device wherein separate tension devices serve the two roll positions but are controlled from a common source. Its purpose is, of course, to use two rolls of paper to feed a continuous web into the printing press by splicing a new roll of paper to each expiring roll when the old roll is used up. The splicing is accomplished while the press is running at its normal rate of speed for printing and involves a knife which will sever the web coming from the expiring roll of paper and the new web will then take the place of the expiring web and continue without interruption and feed the press.

The principal objects of this invention are to combine the feature of applying tension to the running roll controlled by the diameter of the roll while employing a magazine reel, one controllingl means being used to govern both rolls as each becomes the running roll; to provide a double brake arrangement so that each brake takes care of one of the two rolls or spindles so that both sets can be and are controlled by a single regulating mechanism; to provide an improved arrangement for moving the spindles endwise when adjusting for side register; to provide means for locating, centering and locking the paper rolls on their respective spindles; to provide a sleeve for locking one of the cones onto its spindle against edgewise motion and to jam it against the end of the paper roll; to provide a belt support arm which may be raised up out of operating position or brought down so that the belt may engage the new paper roll in a convenient manner; to provide a simple and convenient means for locking the belt support arm in any operative or inoperative position; to provide spring means which is compressed to counteract the weight of the belt arm which has to be somewhat heavy in order to support the belt at the top of the machine; to provide means whereby the paper roll is constantly under control while being unwound and just after splicing; to provide an improved brake mechanism for each spindle or each roll of paper constituting the tension means; to provide a tension arrangement, the force of which will Vary with the size of the paper roll and which will, as the paper roll decreases in size, gradually lessen down to a certain point, and there retain a tension on` ment in such a condition that, when the roll on which it is working is reduced to its smallest diameter, there will still be tension enough to apply the braking strain to control the butt as it is being unwound; to provide a brush or other splicing device, pushed by springs toward the fresh roll but kept from springing ahead by positive means at the end of its operation; to provide springs for urging the knife toward operating position but still kept positively from moving too far ahead; to provide for automatically resetting the knife in inoperative position-after the pasting mechanism has been brought back to inoperative position; to provide for establishing a holding circuit for the knife solenoid, and to provide an arrangement of commutator rings for serving one spindle or roll, after the other has been operated, so that the fresh roll may be first von one spindle and then on the other and will be automatically selected to operate the brush and knife with respect to their angular positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an end view of a reel and paster as-v l sembly illustrating a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end View of a part of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig.I 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the paster mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same, looking in the other direction, the knife being in operative position, in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the general arrangement of the paper roll spindle, partly in section;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the paper reel central support shaft and connected parts;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the paper reel central support shaft, looking at the right end of Fig. 8, and

Fig. Vl() is a wiring diagram.

This is a combination double arm magazine reel and pasting device. In other words, the

reel moves around to bring a new roll tol the running position and, of course, the new roll is loaded when it is directly opposite to the running position. The rotation of the new roll to bring it up to web speed on its surface is supplied by a shaft from the press and controlled by the size of the roll. f

The reel is supported by the two side frames I and Ia which rest on and are secured to a bed plate 2. The side frames are so designed that at 3 they form a box for revolvably supporting a reel support shaft 4.

Looking at Fig. 2 the reel support shaft 4 extends outside of a support box on the side frame and on its end is placed a large worm wheel 1 which is keyed to the shaft. This worm wheel engages with a worm 8 which is keyed to a shaft 9. The shaft 9 is supported in two lugs IU and which are integral parts of a worm wheel guard I2 which encloses worm gear 1 and worm 8. This guard is securely fastened to the side frame I. The worm support shaft 9 extends outside of the hub IB and on its extended end is fastened a hand wheel I3. From this it will be understood that when required to revolve the support shaft 4 it will only be necessary to revolve the hand wheel I3. A handle I4 is placed in the rim of the wheel I3 for conveniently revolving the hand wheel.

Immediately inside of the support boxes 5 and 6 on the support shaft 4 are placed brake drums I5 which are acted on by brake bands I1. These drums rotate freely on their support shaft 4. On the hub of each drum is fastened a gear I6. Each of these gears connects through intermediates I8 and I9 with a pinion 2|] which is fastened to the outside end of a paper roll spindle 2|. It is to be noted that there are two of these spindles 2| operated from opposite ends. It will now be understood that, if necessary to put a braking action on a paper roll spindle, it is only necessary to tighten the proper brake band I1 on the drum I5. The actuating mechanism for the brake bands will be explained later.

The reason for the two brake arrangements on the support shaft is that each set takes care of one of the two paper roll spindles 2| and both sets can be and are controlled by a single regulating mechanism. The only difference between the two brake and spindle assemblies is that they are turned end for end.

On the end of the support shaft 4 opposite to the worm gear 1 is located a cam 5|) (see Figs. 8 and 9). This earn operates a limit switch |48, the action of which will be explained further on. Each brake drum I5 carries an insulated commutator disc 5I, which mounts a number of electrical contact rings 6|), the action of which will be explained later.

Located in a xed position on the support shaft 4 are double arm paper roll spiders 22. These are keyed to the shaft 4. At the two ends of the spiders are located the spindle sockets 23. These sockets, which are the bearings for the paper roll spindles 2|, are supplied each with a hinged cap 24 which pivots on a hinge 25 and is held by a screw and thumb nut 26, for convenient removal of spindles.

The paper roll spindles 2| revolve in sockets 23. An arrangement for moving the spindles endwise as is necessary when adjusting for register is accomplished as follows:

On the end of each paper roll spindle 2| is fastened a grooved collar 21. The groove in this collar engages with a stud 28 which is fastened to the end of a lever 29. The end of the lever 29 pivots on a stud 30 which is fastened to the spider 22 by a poppet 34. In the middle of each lever 29 is located a screw threaded swivel poppet 3| which engages with a screw 32 which is operated by a hand wheel 33. The screw 32 is loosely fitted in a hole in a hub 35 on the spider 22, but

is kept from end motion by a collar on the screw in one direction and the hand wheel 33 in the other. It will now be understood that by turning the hand wheel 33 in one direction or the other the screw 32 will move the lever 29 which in turn will move that spindle 2| endwise as required. The collar 21 is locked to the spindle 2| by a spring seated pawl 48 and sliding key 49 (see Fig. 7) To remove the collar it is only necessary to raise the pawl free of its engaging notch in the spindle and pull the collar off endwise.

On the spindle 2| are located the paper roll cones 36 and 31, the purpose of which is to locate, center and lock the paper rolls to the spindle. The cone 31 on one end of the spindle must also be easily removable to facilitate changing of paper rolls. The paper roll cone 31 is slidably fitted to the spindle 2|. It is kept from rotating on the spindle by a sliding key 38 which is locked to the sleeve of the cone 31 by a rivet 39. A pin 40 is driven into the side of the cone sleeve and extends outside the surface. The purpose of this pin is to slip into a groove in the end of the paper roll core (not shown) and lock the paper roll from rotating on the spindle.

In back of the cone 31 is a sleeve 4|. The sleeves purpose is to lock the cone 31 on the spindle for endwise motion and to jam same against end of the paper roll. The sleeve slides on the spindle but has a sliding key 42 which keeps it from revolving on the same. This key is fastened to the sleeve by a rivet 43. In a slot in the rear end of the sleeve is placed a spring seated pawl 44 which engages with a ratchet face that is cut in the side of the spindle 2 I. To lock the cone 31 in its proper position it will only be necessary to push the coneand sleeve to their proper position and the pawl will lock against backward motion. For fine adjustment of the cone and for jamming the cone against the end of the paper roll, a nut 45 is located on a threaded portion of the inside end of the sleeve 4|. To jam the cone 31 against the paper roll it is only necessary to revolve the nut 45 so as to clamp it against paper cone, provided that sleeve 4I is locked on the spindle by the pawl 44. Pin holes 46 are provided in the nut 45 to facilitate turning the nut by a pin wrench or Spanner.

At the other end of the paper roll 69 on the spindle 2| is located the paper roll cone 36. This cone itself is of the same design as the cone 31. This cone, however, is never removed and has only to be shifted endwise when the press is changed to run a different width of paper. For this reason, two lock nuts 41, which are threaded on the body of the spindle back up the paper roll cone against end motion. When it is necessary to change the location of the cone for a different size of paper, it is'necessary only to move these nuts backward or ahead as required to locate the cone in its proper position.

On the brake side end of the spindle is located the brake engaging gear 20. This gear is fastened to the spindle in identically the same way as the collar 21 for easy removal when changing paper rolls.

In the operation of making a pasted splice between an expiring web and a new roll of paper it is necessary that the new roll should be revolved the surface of the new roll 89a. This belt is driven by a pulley 65 which gets its drive from the press. The following will explain in detail this belt pulley drive and mechanism.

Looking at Fig. 1, 52 represents a part of the printing press. The driving shaft 59 is driven from the press at ya speed relative to that of the printing cylinders. This shaft 53 is joined by a coupling 53a to a shaft 53h which has a running t in a box 513, supported on a oor stand 55, and is .geared to an input shaft 59 of a variable speed drive box 55 by gears 51 and 58. On the output shaft of the speed box 55 is keyed a bevel pinion SI which engages with a bevel gear 62 which is keyed to a shaft 63. On the top end of the shaft 53 is keyed a mitre gear 69 which engages with a mitre gear 65 on the end of the shaft carrying the belt drive pulley 55. This constif tutes the drive for the belt drive pulley 56 yand belt 51. As it is necessary that the surface Speed of the belt drive pulley B9 be the same as the surface speed of the printing cylinders, and as the printing cylinders vary in diameter to suit the required size of the printed matter, the variable speed device 56 is included in the gearing to compensate for the variation in the surface speeds of cylinders of different diameters.

The shaft B3 is supported at its lower end by a bearing 'Il which is an integral part of a bracket 12. The bracket 12 fastens to floor stand 55 which is fastened to the bed plate 2. At its upper end this shaft revolves in a bearing 88 which is bolted to an extension of the side frame I.

The endless belt 81 wraps around the pulley $6 on a long arc. It runs around pulleys 19, 'I9 and 19 and is tightened by spring seated tightener 19. Belt pulleys 19, 19 and 10, as well as tightener 13 are all carried on a belt support arm 1li. This arm is supported by and keyed to a support shaft 15, which swivels in hubs 15 which are integral parts of side frames I and I a. The belt support arm 1li may be raised up out of operating position or may be brought down against the new paper roll as required by moving an operating arm 11 which is keyed to the outside end of the shaft 15. A spring seated drop pin 'I8 in the lever 11, which is operated by a twisting handle 19 on the end of the lever, will engage any one of 'a number of holes or teeth 89h in the edge of a segment 89, thereby locking the belt support arm in any operating position or in an inoperative position. The segment 89 is fastened to the outside of the side frame I by studs 85a. On the end of the shaft 15 opposite to the lever 'I1 is located a lever 8| which is securely fastened to the shaft. The end of this lever is pivoted to a spring seated rod 82. This spring rod pivots on a stud 83 which is screwed into a hub von the lever SI. The other end of the spring rod is slidable in a poppet 8d which is screwed into the side frame I. A spring 85 on the spring rod is compressed to a proper pres-` sure between a poppet 84 and a collar 86 on the spring rod, to counteract the weight of the belt arm. After the splice has been made and the paper is running olf the new roll, the reel spiders will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, as looking at Fig. 1, until a predetermined position has been reached. This position is reached when the center of the running roll is approximately in line with the position roll 81, as shown in Fig. 1. This is the proper running off position for the roll and will be kept until the butt is getting small enough to prepare for a new splice. At this same position of the upper end of the double spider the lower end of the spider is in the proper position .connected by a stud 99 to this lever.

for removing the old butt and loading a new roll.

As it is necessary that the paper roll be constantly under control while being unwound, the belt 61, just after splicing, is kept in contact with the roll until the running off position has been reached. At this point the new roll has contacted with and moved the roll 81 which controls the tension of the brake bands I'I, and, since the brake now controls the running off of the web, the belt 51 may be raised up out of contact with the paper roll.

The following will explain the brake mechanism (see especially Fig. 1). As the reel moves in an anti-clockwise direction by turning the hand wheel I3, the newly spliced roll 59a reaches the prefixed running position and the surface of the roll 69a, bears againstthe roll 51 and moves the same to the left. The roll 81 has a running iit on a stud 88 which is fastened in the end of a lever 89. The lever 89 isr fastened to a shaft 99 which swivels in holes in hubs 9I located in extensions of frames I and Ia. The lever is so located on the shaft that it locates. the roller 81 exactly in the middle of the paper roll which also is the center line between the side frames.

On the shaft 99, immediately inside of its supporting hubs 9i, are securely fastened two levers 92, one on each side. 0n the free end of each of these levers is a stud 93 on which swivels one end of a turn buckle 99. The other end of each turn buckle connects with a pull spring 95 which is fastened to the end of the brake band I1. The other end of each brake band is fastened to the inside of the side frames I and Ia. by a stud |85.

It will now be readily understood that as the roll 81 is pushed to the left by the paper roll 69a it turns the shaft 99 which in turn will move the levers 92 to the left. As the levers 92 move to the left they will put tension on the springs 95. This tension will, of course, vary with the size of the paper roll as the size of the roll governs the motion of the roll 81. The tension of the springs 95 will now act on the ends of the two brake bands I'I to give the proper braking strain. As the paper roll unwinds and gradually becomes smaller, the roll 81 will follow up and thereby decrease the spring tension in proportion to the size of the roll. When it is necessary to release the brake bands completely as, for example, when making a paster when the new roll is driven by the belts 61, for selecting the running roll, or when changing paper rolls, the following device makes this possible.

Immediatelyinsideof each frame I and Ia is located a lever 96 which pivots on a stud 91 which fastens to the side frame. A bar 98 is loosely The other end of the bar 99 is loosely connected to the springs seated end of the brake band I'I. By throwing the lever 95 downward until the lever locks past the center, it will have pulled the bars 98 with it which will unlock the brake band from the drum vuntil again released.

After splicing and moving to the running position the paper roll may be unwound until it is time to prepare the butt for another pasting operation. At this time the tension regulating arm 89 will have moved so far to the right that it will strike against a brace IUI which connects the frames I and Ia (see Fig. 1) This will stop the roller 81 from further motion. There is, however, still tension enough in the springs 95 to supply enough braking strain to control the butt as it is being unwound.

The reel will now be turned around by operating the hand wheel I3 in an anti-clockwise direction until the surface of the new roll 69a comes within approximately one-half inch of the paster brush |02 which has been brought to a fixed position and locked there, as will be explained later.

The expiring butt will now be in its proper location for the splicing operation, as this position is automatically placed when the new roll 69a in the opposite spindle position is placed in the right location to the brush |02.

At the extreme upper end of the side frames I and la, is located a shaft |03. This shaft supports the paster arms |04 which are keyed thereto. The shaft swivels in brackets |09, one at each end, which are securely fastened to the side frames I and Ia.

The pasting mechanism is moved to operative and inoperative positions by a lever |05 which is keyed to the shaft |03 and located outside of the bracket |09 on the worm gear side of the reel. This lever engages a segment |06 which fastens to the side frame and is so arranged that a spring seated lock pin |01 in the handle |08 of the lever may lock the lever in any required position. This, of course, is the means for locating the paster arm |04 which in Fig. 1 is shown in pasting position.

The brush |02 is held in a brush holder |I0. The brush holder is in the shape of a lever which pivots with a shaft to which it is securely clamped. The shaft swivels in brackets ||2 which are secured to the paster arms |04. The brush |02 is urged by springs ||3 towards the fresh roll but is kept from springing ahead by a pawl I I4 which pivots on a stud I l5 on the brush or paster arm |04. The pawl ||4 is operated by a solenoid ||6, mounted on a shelf ||1 of paster arm |04, and is controlled by a push button, as will be described later. After the brush has been operated by pushing the button it is only required to move the brush arm |04 back to inoperative position and the brush will be automatically reset by a rod |I8 of which upper end will strike against the xed cam face which is part of the paster arm support bracket |09.

Fastened to the ends of the brush arm support shaft |03 are located levers |2| and |22. The purpose of these levers is to counterbalance the weight of the brush arm arrangement by the pressure of springs |23 on spring rods |24.

Placed at the lower end of the brush arms |04 is located the knife |25 which is shown in Fig. 5 in operative position. It is guarded by a guard |26 which is fastened to a toe |21 on the brush arm |04. The knife is held in a holder |28 secured to a shaft |29 which is oscillatably supported in brackets |32 on the paster arms |04. On this shaft are located the two torsion springs of which one end of each is fastened to a collar |3| and the other end to a support bracket |32. These springs urge the knife towards operating position but are kept from moving by a pawl |33 which engages a lever |34. This lever is pivoted at |35 and is electrically operated by a solenoid |36 which is fastened to a toe |31 on the paster arm |04. After the knife has been in operation it will be automatically reset when the brush arm |04 is brought to inoperative position. A crank arm |38 is placed on the end of the knife support shaft |29. This crank is pivotally connected to a rod |39 which slides through a poppet |4| mounted on a projection |40 of the bracket |09. It will be understood readily that when the brush arm is moved from one position to another there will develop a crank action between the brush arm and the fixed center of the poppet |4I. This motion will be transferred by the rod |39 to the lever |38, thereby resetting the knife in inoperative position.

A tube |42 acts as a brace between the two arms |04. It also acts as a bar for the paper to slide on when the paper is running from the butt in pasting position.

The electrical equipment and the wiring diagram operate as follows:

l Referring particularly to Fig. 10, lines L--I and L-2, represent any source of electrical power. The usual switch |43 and fuses |44 are provided. A line |45 runs to one side of a push button |46 which may be conveniently located on the frame of the machine. The other side of the push button |46 is connected to a line |41 which runs to contacts in said selector switch |40 which is shown in Fig. 9 as being operated by the cam 50. The low part of the cam connects one set of contacts carried therein while the high part of the cam connects the other. In this manner a selection is made of the particular spindle which carries the fresh web roll. A line |49 runs to a brush |49a which is shown particularly in Figs. 10 and 8. This, when the switch |43 is closed and push button |46 is closed, will feed one side of the line to a center commutator ring |50. An insulated segment |5| is connected with the center ring |50 and when it passes a brush |52 it connects a line |53 with one side of the brush solenoid ||6. The other side of the solenoid ||6 is connected by a line |54 to the other side of the power. This establishes a circuit which energizes the brush solenoid ||6, thereby causing the brush to press the running web against the fresh web roll as previously described.

The energizing of the brush solenoid I 5 closes contacts |4'Ia and 53a, thereby establishing a hold-in circuit for the brush solenoid. When the brush |02 moves forward to make the splice, the cam |55 on the shaft as best shown in Figs. 4 and 6, operates a roller |56a on a switch |56, the later being carried by the bracket on the brush arm and thereby permits contacts to be closed in this switch. This closing of contacts in the switch |50 connects line |54, which is one side of the power line, to a knife solenoid |36, the other side of which is connected by the line |51 to a brush |58 which cooperates with a contact segment |59 which is connected with the center ring |50 and then through the brush |49a, line |49, switch |48, line |41, push button |45 and line |45 to the other side of the line. This energizes the knife solenoid and permits the knife |25 to sever the web in a manner previously described. It also closes contacts |4112 and |511) and thereby establishes a hold-in circuit for the knife solenoid. When the push button I 46 is opened by the operator releasing the power the two solenoids I6 and |36 are disconnected and these solenoids are deenergized.

It is evident that, when the switch |48 operates to disconnect the lower contacts and connect the upper contacts, the commutator rings 5| serving the other spindle of the reel, are connected, thus the fresh roll may be first on one spindle and then the other, it being automatically selected to operate the brush and knife with respect to its angular position. It is evident that the commutator rings 5| always bear a definite relation to gears I6, |8 and I9. By placing a suitable marker on the gear I9 the fresh paste on the new roll 69e may be applied with reference to that marker and thereby insure proper operation of the brush and knife to make a successful splice.

The splicing operation will now be explained:

As formerly explained, when the one paper roll is in its running 01T position, the opposite paper roll sockets are in the proper position for loading the reel. The expired butt will now be removed and a new roll be put in its place. In approximate line with a mark on the gear I9 the outside sheet will now be cut in the shape of saw teeth forming preferably two corners. Each of these corners will now be pasted to the surface of the paper roll by a paster tab. This tab is a piece of paper that has been weakened in the middle by perforations and is well known in the art. The one end of the tab will be pasted to the corner of the outside sheet and-the other end pasted to the paper roll so as to smoothly and closely hold the outside sheet to the roll. Near the edge of the saw tooth shaped end of the sheet will now be spread a border of special paste. The paste will be continuous from end to end of the paper roll except for a portion in the center of the roll which must be kept free of paste to make a clean path for the belt 61 and roll 81.

The expiring butt will now be watched. When it is considered small enough to prepare for splicing, the hand wheel I3 will be revolved causing the new roll to move in an anti-clockwise direction until a predetermined mark on the frame is reached. This is the proper place for splicing if the splicing position is reached. At this time the arm H14 will be moved to the right as far as it will go and locked, causing the brush arm |04 to be held in its proper position for splicing. Fig. 1 shows the brush arm in this position. The space between the brush and the roll will now be approximately one-half inch. 'I'he belt arm 14 has all this time been kept in its upper position with the belt 61 out of contact with the roll. It will now be lowered by moving the operating lever 'I1 to the left, bringing the belt 61 into contact with the surface of the roll. Since the belt is driven from the press at paper speed, it will now start the roll spinning at a surface speed equal to the printing speed.

When the paster is to be made it is then necessary only to make an electric contact by pushing the push button |46. This will operate the solenoid H6 which will make the brush force the paper from the butt against the surface of the new roll. The paste on the end of the outside sheet of the new roll will stick to the paper coming from the butt. The paste is strong enough to tear the two paster tabs and the paper from the new roll will run along with the paper from the butt. Immediately after the paster has been made the saw toothed knife will drop in the path of the paper coming from the butt and sever it. The new roll will now be moved to the regular running position by turning the hand wheel I3. The lever Tl will be moved to the right as far as it will go and locked, raising the belt 61 out of Contact with the roll.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

In a pasting device for a web roll, the combination of a shaft, a pair of pasting arms on said shaft, manual means for turning said shaft and moving the pasting arms into operative p0- sition, a brush shaft, movably mounted on said arms, supporting pasting brushes, spring rods on said pasting arms acting to move said brush shaft to throw the brushes and running web forward against the fresh roll, a solenoid operated latch to prevent this forward movement until the solenoid is energized, a pair of cams mounted on the supports for the pasting arm shaft which engage the spring rods to force the brushes backward to reset position when the pasting arms are raised to inoperative position.

CHARLES L. RICARDS. 

